What Is an Ocularist? Duties, Education & Job Outlook

Key Takeaways

• Ocularists combine medical expertise with artistic skills to craft prosthetic eyes, boosting confidence in individuals who have lost an eye.
• To become an ocularist, you need specific education and hands-on training, starting with high school and continuing through a formal apprenticeship.
• Essential skills include attention to detail, creativity, and compassion, which help ocularists craft eyes that look real and support patients.
• Ocularists enjoy strong career prospects in the U.S., with experienced professionals earning over $100,000 a year in hospitals, special clinics, or private offices.

Losing an eye is a profoundly challenging experience. It’s the ocularist’s job to help people feel like themselves again. Few other medical professions combine art and science as these highly qualified specialists do when designing, manufacturing, and fitting artificial eyes. This uncommon combination of artistic expression and medical expertise makes ocularistry both essential and unique. 

In this article, you’ll learn what ocularists do, how to become one, and what career options are available in this meaningful line of work.

What Is an Ocularist?

An ocularist is a trained and certified specialist who creates and fits ocular prostheses, or artificial eyes, for patients who have lost an eye due to surgery, disease, or trauma. Ocularists design prosthetic eyes that are the same size, shape, and color as the patient’s natural eye, combining artistic skills with medical expertise.

They also make sure the prosthesis fits comfortably. Besides crafting the artificial eye, ocularists instruct patients on proper care and maintenance, offering regular follow-up appointments.

What Does an Ocularist Do?

An ocularist helps people who have lost an eye regain a sense of comfort, confidence, and normalcy by creating and fitting artificial eyes. Their work combines medical knowledge, artistic skill, and compassionate patient care to restore a natural appearance and improve emotional well-being.

With skilled artistry and ongoing patient care, ocularists significantly contribute to restoring confidence and improving overall well-being. Their key duties include:

• Designing and crafting artificial eyes: Ocularists use specialized tools and materials to create prosthetic eyes that look realistic. They carefully shape and paint each one so it looks as close as possible to the patient’s natural eye.
• Customizing ocular prosthetics to match appearance: Since each person’s eyes are different, the ocularist ensures that the artificial eye’s color, size, and shape complement the natural eye. This helps the prosthesis blend seamlessly and appear natural.
• Fitting and adjusting prosthetic eyes: The ocularist inserts the prosthetic eye into the patient’s eye socket and ensures a proper fit. They make any necessary adjustments to improve comfort and appearance.
• Providing patient consultation and care: Ocularists guide patients through the process, answering questions and explaining what to expect. They teach patients how to care for their prosthetic eye and maintain hygiene, offering regular follow-up appointments to ensure ongoing comfort and condition.

How to Become an Ocularist?

Becoming an ocularist requires a combination of education, hands-on training, and certification. Most start by finishing high school and an apprenticeship under a skilled ocularist. After gaining the necessary experience and training hours, candidates must pass certification exams to become licensed professionals.

The following sections will explain each step in detail so you can understand what it takes to enter this meaningful career.

Educational requirements

Education for ocularists includes both medical knowledge and artistic training to meet the profession’s requirements.

The first step is usually finishing high school or getting an equivalent diploma, like a GED. In high school, it’s a good idea to study subjects like biology and anatomy to understand how the body works. Taking classes in art, medical arts, and prosthetics can also help because creating artificial eyes requires both scientific understanding and creativity.

Although a medical degree is not required, some ocularists may choose to pursue further education, such as an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). This additional education can open up more opportunities within eye care and related fields.

Training and certification

To become an ocularist, you need to complete hands-on training through an apprenticeship under a certified professional. With this kind of training, you learn how to craft and fit artificial eyes that are comfortable for each patient and have a realistic appearance.

It also gives you the chance to develop essential skills like communicating with patients, guiding them through the process, and instructing them on proper care. The combination of technical expertise and compassionate patient care is crucial for success in this field.

After fulfilling the program’s requirements and completing the necessary training hours, you can pursue certification, such as becoming a Board Certified Ocularist (BCO). Earning this certification shows that you have strong skills and knowledge, helping you gain the trust of both patients and employers.

Essential skills required

Ocularists need a unique blend of scientific knowledge, artistic talent, and patient care skills. These abilities help them create realistic prosthetic eyes and support patients throughout the process. Key skills include:

• Attention to detail: An ocularist must ensure the artificial eye looks real by meticulously matching its size, color, and shape to the natural one.
• Artistic abilities: Ocularists with creative ability are better equipped to paint and construct the prosthetic eye so that it resembles the natural eye.
• Technical proficiency: It’s essential that you use specialized tools and materials correctly while making and fitting the artificial eye.
• Empathy and strong communication: By understanding patients’ emotions and providing a thorough explanation of the surgery, the ocularist may help patients adjust to their new prosthetic eye.

Career Prospects for an Ocularist

A career as an ocularist offers the unique opportunity to blend medical knowledge with artistic skill while making a real difference in patients’ lives. Ocularists can work in a variety of settings, including private practices, hospitals, clinics, and specialized prosthetics labs.

Salary expectations vary depending on experience, location, and qualifications, but generally speaking, the industry offers a stable income with room for growth. We’ll explore job opportunities and salary details in the following paragraphs.

Job opportunities

Ocularists can find employment in various settings, each offering unique opportunities to apply their specialized skills:

• Hospitals and medical clinics: These facilities frequently include oculoplastics units where ocularists collaborate with ophthalmologists, optometrists, and other eye care professionals to deliver comprehensive eye care services.
• Specialized prosthetics centers: These dedicated facilities focus on the creation and fitting of prosthetic devices, allowing ocularists to concentrate solely on ocular prostheses.
• Private ocularist practices: Some ocularists establish their own practices, offering personalized services and building long-term relationships with patients.

The job market for ocularists is influenced by the overall growth in healthcare employment. The healthcare sector is projected to add approximately 1.6 million jobs from 2023 to 2033, accounting for about 24% of all new jobs in the economy.

The expansion is propelled by an aging demographic and greater demand for medical care, leading to sustained opportunities for ocularists.

Salary expectations

In the United States, ocularist salaries vary depending on factors like experience, location, certifications, and the type of workplace. According to SalaryExpert, the average annual salary is around $100,716, with an hourly wage of about $48.

Salaries differ quite a bit between regions. For example, ocularists in Los Angeles, CA, earn about $198,077 on average, while those in Buffalo, NY, make around $168,664. These differences reflect variations in the cost of living and local demand for ocularist services.

Earnings are also greatly influenced by experience and certification. Entry-level ocularists typically make between $60,000 and $80,000 annually, while those with over five years of experience can earn from $80,000 up to $100,000.

Holding certifications like the Board Certified Ocularist (BCO) from the National Examining Board of Ocularists (NEBO) can increase salary potential.

The employment setting also affects pay. Ocularists working in private practices or specialized prosthetics centers generally have higher earning potential than those in hospitals or clinics due to factors like patient volume, specialization, and business ownership.

Conclusion

A career as an ocularist is a meaningful blend of art, science, and patient care. These skilled professionals help people regain confidence by crafting prosthetic eyes that restore a natural appearance and improve quality of life. If you’re passionate about healthcare and want a unique career that makes a real difference, consider exploring your path through medical education.

AUAMED offers a strong foundation for students interested in different medical specialties — check out our programs today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an optician and an ocularist?

An optician fits and dispenses eyeglasses and contact lenses, while an ocularist designs, creates, and fits artificial eyes for patients who have lost an eye.

What is the difference between an ophthalmologist and an ocularist?

Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye conditions, often through surgical procedures, whereas ocularists specialize in crafting and fitting prosthetic eyes for patients who’ve had an eye removed.

How often do patients need to replace or adjust their prosthetic eyes?

Patients typically need adjustments or polishing every 6-12 months and may need a full replacement every 5-7 years, depending on wear and changes in the eye socket.